This painting began with a craving for forest colored greenery . Since living in the desert, I find myself craving lush plants, bodies of water and that rich range of colors on a regular basis. I'm realizing that more and more of my paintings capture these elements to help balance my desire to have them in my surroundings.
Aside from the life sustaining forces that plants and water provide, and the feelings of home that they supply to me, there is something about the color energy of blue and green that I find irresistible. Once I placed the fluid green paint on the canvas, it was clear that a woman was within the paint. I tried to explore other options regarding what this piece may want to become, but her presence was overwhelmingly there, so I had little choice but to give her form.
As I developed the figure, it felt like she was intuitively leading, pulling or bringing forth a powerful element of change and flow. It gave me the impression that she was doing so without any trepidation, without questioning or even looking. Water felt like the appropriate addition.
It seemed to me that she had a soothing, unifying influence on the water; as if she were taming its raging energy to move to her desire. So the taming of the water was the next part to change.
Then it felt as though she represented growth and life, and I began to adorn her figure with plant like forms growing throughout her being.
After this, it felt important to emphasize that she had flawless trust and faith in all that was happening. To represent this, her eyes were covered. It also felt like the piece needed to exude the feeling of warmth, and so the background was created to depict that.
After completing this step, she felt rooted in the elements of earth, but still maintained an openness and spirituality. It felt like she was ready to spread her message.
That final piece is how I decide when a painting is complete. I find that the messages from paintings are varied for every viewer, and they change over time. It's true that I painted her, but with these types of intuitive works, they really paint themselves- I just pay attention.
While she offers me much inspiration, the original and prints are available for those that would benefit from her presence. For more on purchasing options, visit here.
